Category Archives: Reviews

Reviews of operas, plays, movies, etc. that I have seen.

Splendid Die Meistersinger in HD

Posted on December 14, 2014 by Edward Brain

On December 13th, the Metropolitan Opera presented Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg as part of its Live in HD broadcast schedule.  The production was directed by Otto Schenk with sets by Gunther Schneider-Siemssen.  The performance starred Michael Volle (Hans Sachs), … Continue reading →

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H.M.S. Pinafore at the U of T

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Edward Brain

Last night, the University of Toronto‘s (U of T) Opera Division opened a short run of Gilbert and Sullivan‘s H.M.S. Pinafore at the Macmillan Theatre.   The performance starred Ryan Downey (Captain Corcoran), Karine White (Josephine). Charles Sy (Ralph Rackstraw), Max … Continue reading →

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Spectacular Madama Butterfly

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Edward Brain

The Canadian Opera Company (COC) has opened a spectacular production of Giacomo Puccini‘s Madama Butterfly Friday night at the Four Seasons Centre.  The production starred Patricia Racette (Cio-Cio San), Stefano Secco (Pinkerton), Elizabeth DeShong (Suzuki), Dwayne Croft (Sharpless), and Julius … Continue reading →

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The Last Confession in Review

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Edward Brain

Last night I attended a performance of Roger Crane’s The Last Confession starring David Suchet as Cardinal Benelli.  The performance also starred Sam Perks (Father Lorenzi), Phillip Craig (the Confessor), David Ferry (Monsignor Magee), Richard O’Callaghan (Cardinal Albino Luciani/Pope John … Continue reading →

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Hercules at the Canadian Opera

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Edward Brain

Director Peter Sellars, whose Tristan und Isolde for the COC last season was a huge success, has returned to Toronto for a production of Handel’s Hercules.  The production stars Eric Owens as Hercules, Alice Coote as Dejanira (Hercules’ wife), Richard … Continue reading →

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Monuments Men Review

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Edward Brain

I’d to share my thought about the movie Monuments Men which I have recently watched at my local Cineplex.  The movie is based on The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History, by Robert … Continue reading →

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Canadian Opera Company’s Un Ballo in Maschera

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Edward Brain

Four Seasons Centre (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Last night I attended a performance of the Canadian Opera Company‘s (COC) production of Un Ballo in Mashera (A Masked Ball) by Guiseppe Verdi.  It starred Adrianne Pieczonka (Amelia), Dimitri Pittas (Riccardo), Elena Manistina … Continue reading →

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Don Pasquale at the U of T Opera

Posted on November 29, 2013 by Edward Brain

Last night I attended the opening performance of the University of Toronto Opera’s first production of Gaetano Donizetti’s comic opera Don Pasquale.  The production is directed by Michael Patrick Albano and conducted by Sandra Horst.  The cast starred Dylan Wright … Continue reading →

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‘I Love Lucy’ Live on Stage Review

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Edward Brain

Last night I attended the last performance of ‘I Love Lucy’ Live on Stage at the Royal Alexandra Theatre (‘Royal Alex’) starring Sirena Irwin (Lucy), Bill Mendieta (Ricky), Kevin Remington (Fred), and Joanna Daniels (Ethel.) This is essentially a play … Continue reading →

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Peter Grimes at the C.O.C.

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Edward Brain

I attended the October 11th performance of Peter Grimes by the Canadian Opera Company (C.O.C.)  The production is directed by Neil Armfield starring Ben Heppner (Peter Grimes), Ileana Montalbetti (Ellen Orford), Alan Held (Captain Balstrode), Jill Grove (Auntie), and Thomas … Continue reading →

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